For some, New Year’s Eve is best spent sitting behind the TV with a warm drink. Others may prefer to head out into the cold and brave the crowds to soak up the festive atmosphere. For the latter variety, we collected the top five places to spend your New Year’s Eve.

New York

No New Year’s Eve destination list can exist without New York City. Despite insane crowds, packed public transit and hours of standing in the cold, experiencing New Year’s Eve at Times Square is something everyone should do at least once.

Dress (very) warm and plan to get to Times Square around 2 p.m. if you want a decent spot. After 8 p.m., expect things to fill up to capacity, forcing you into a spot with a less than desirable view. In other words, if you don’t like crowds, pick something else to do.

Closest Homewood Suites location: Edgewater

Chicago

Chicago does three things really well on New Year’s Eve – cold weather, parties and fireworks. Parties are everywhere and vary from romantic and cozy to completely insane, like the Playboy NYE celebration at the Chicago Hilton. Want to go all out for New Year’s Eve? $3,000 gets you eight tickets to the Playboy party with a VIP table, 5 hour premium open bar, Playmate meet and greet, and your own cocktail server.

Another great way to ring in the New Year is with a lake cruise. For around $175, a cruise ship will take you out on Lake Michigan, serve you from an open bar and, of course, provide a perfect place to view the fireworks at midnight.

Closest Homewood Suites location:  Downtown Chicago

Las Vegas

New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas is done like everything else in the City – to the extreme. Fireworks are launched from seven different properties on the Strip. Parties are held at every nightclub in town and most shows will put on a special New Year’s Eve performance.

The Freemont Street Experience is home to their yearly cover band music show, which includes four different stages and performances by bands like the Red Not Chili Peppers and Fan Halen.

As with all special events in Vegas, book well in advance, and keep in mind that parties will require you to adhere to their dress code. Still, if you don’t like standing outside in the freezing cold, watching the fireworks from the Strip with a yard long cocktail in hand might be just what you need.

Closest Homewood Suites location: Las Vegas Airport